ORATION, 


DELIVERED   BEFORE  THE 


WASHINGTON  BENEVOLENT  SOCIETY 


IN  THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK, 


AT  ZION  CHURCH, 


ON  THE  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY,  1809. 


BY  SAMUEL  M.  HOPKINS,  ESQ. 


PUBLISHED   BY  THE  SOCIETY. 


THERE  shall  be  an  annual  Oration  delivered  before  the  Society,  in  commemoration  of 
the  virtues  and  services  of  that  great  and  good  Patriot,  GEORGE  WASHINGTON",  OB 
the  22d  day  of  February,  each  year,  being  the  Anniversary  of  his  Birth-day." 

Constitution  of  the  Society. 


NEW-YORK: 


Printed  by  j.  seymour,  and  sold  by  hopkins  and  bayarb. 

at  Washington's  head, 
N°.  118,  Pccrl-strect. 


i£x  ICtbrts 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
"Ever  thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


AT  a  stated  meeting1  of  the  M  Washington  Benevolent  Society,''  held  at 
Harmony -Hall,  on  the  28th  day  of  February,  1809— the  following  Re- 
solution was  unanimously  adopted : 

"  fiesolved,  That  the  President  present  the  thanks  of  the  Soci  ty  to  Sa~ 
mi  el  Miles  Hopkins,  Esq  for  his  eloquent  and  patriotic  Oration 
(in  commemoration  of  the  virtues,  talents,  and  achievements  of  the 
illustrious  Washington,)  delivered  in  Zion  Church,  on  the  22d  inst. 
tmd  request  a  copy  for  publication  at  the  expense  of  the  Society." 
Extract  from  the  Minutes, 

G.  C.  VERPLANCK,  Secretary. 


AN  I 

ORATION, 


It  is  now  nine  years  since  the  death  of  Wash- 
ington. Upon  that  event  our  orphan  nation  throng- 
ed into  public  assemblies,  to  deplore  the  loss  of  our 
father  and  chief.  Now  we  meet  to  celebrate  his 
fame. 

The  history  of  Washington,  for  more  than  forty 
years,  was  the  history  of  our  country.  It  was  the 
peculiar  felicity  of  this  man,  to  have  laid  in  early 
youth,  the  foundation  of  our  national  greatness;  to 
have  conducted  through  life  the  great  work  of  ouf 
independence;  and  when  he  died,  to  have  left  a  young 
empire,  wide-extended,  united,  respected  abroad,  and 
happy  at  home,  as  the  fruit  of  his  labours. 

Of  such  a  man,  and  of  such  a  work,  who  shall 
presume  to  pronounce  the  eulogium  ? — This  country 
itself — its  independence,  liberty,  and  union,  form  tiie 
fair,  and,  we  hope,  the  everlasting  menu, rial  ot  his 
virtues  and  services.    He  first  taught  the  inlant  co- 


(    4  ) 


lonies  their  strength ;  he  led  our  armies  through  the 
war  of  independence ;  he  finished  the  "  building  of 
our  nation"'  by  his  civil  administration. 

I  shall  not  attempt  to  detail  events  which  are  well 
known  to  every  American.  I  presume  not  to  draw 
a  character,  to  which  perhaps  no  pen  has  done  com- 
plete justice.  Yet,  without  arrogance,  I  may  ask  your 
attention  to  a  few  of  the  extraordinary  qualities 
with  which  providence  endowed  your  hero. 

It  has  been  nobly  said  of  Washington,  "  that 
his  master-passion  was  the  love  of  country."  He 
gave  to  it  the  best  affections  of  his  heart,  and  the 
toils  and  dangers  of  a  long  and  glorious  life.  This 
virtue  in  him,  was  mixed  with  no  selfish  considera- 
tions, no  aim  at  emolument ;  no  motive  of  personal 
vanity,  or  false  glory.  Its  ardour  was  never  cooled 
by  causes  which  in  others  would  have  produ- 
ced disgust.  It  was  neither  limited  by  local  views, 
nor  temporary  advantages.  His  country  was  Ameri- 
ca. On  one  hand  it  did  not  embrace  the  whole 
world,  nor  on  the  other  was  confined  to  his  native 
state.  iS'o  party  contest ;  no  state  cabals  ;  no  lures 
for  popular  favour;  neither  ambition  in  the  field, 
nor  duplicity  in  the  cabinet,  "  sunk  him  to  the  vul- 
var level  of  the  <jreat."  Patriotism  assumed  a  new 
and  more  august  character,  when  exhibited  in  the 
life  ot  Washington.    He  looked  not  to  the  present 


(  *  ) 


time  only,  but  to  all  futurity ;  his  eye  glanced  down 
the  descent  of  ages;  and  while  he  surveyed  as  far  as 
mortal  ken  can  do,  the  present  and  the  future,  his 
hopes  and  affections  were  fixed  on  that  great  whole^ 
which  is  embraced  in  the  history  of  an  empire.  ^ 

Among  the  virtues  of  Washington,  none  perhaps 
was  more  remarkable  than  his  fortitude.  But  in 
naming  this,  I  do  not  descend  to  speak  of  personal 
courage,  nor  even  of  military  ardour  and  enterprise. 
To  meet  with  naked  breast  the  weapons  of  war — to 
rush  on  death  in  the  field  of  battle ; — most  men  can 
do  this  ;  w  is  no  uncommon  praise.  The  conduct 
of  the  war  required  virtues  of  a  very  different  .order. 
View  your  General  supported  by  the  slender  resour- 
■ces  of  this  young  country,  advancing  to  assert  its  in- 
dependence. He  intrepidly  takes  the  field,  and  waits 
the  foe  witli  a  few  undiciplined  and  ill-provided 
troops.  But  Britain  is  upon-thee,  Washington,  with 
all  her  force  ;  with  her  thousand  ships  and  veteran 
armies.  Undismayed  at  the  invader's  power,  ho 
maintains  the  conflict.  Sometimes  he  is  compelled  to 
a  reluctant  retreat ;  sometimes  forced  to  hazard  his 
country  and  his  fame  (for  he  thought  not  of  life)  in 
unequal  combat.  At  length  the  states  are  exhaust- 
ed ;  the  people  desponding  ;  his  brave  soldiers  sink- 
ing around  him  with  sufferings  and  want.  In  the 
midst  of  these  accumulating  difficulties,  he  is  unap- 
plied and  serene ;  unbroken  by  adverse  fortune. 


(    6  ) 


he  calmly  surveys  the  portentous  scene,  and  smo- 
thers in  his  own  great  bosom  cares  dangerous  to  ut- 
ter, or  too  mighty  for  utterance.  View  this  in  the 
character  of  Washington,  and  contemplate  an  exam- 
ple of  fortitude  which  has  never  been  exceeded. 

It  has  been  said  by  moralists,  that  it  is  more  eas^ 
to  bear  bad  fortune  with  equanimity  than  good.  Per- 
haps temperance  is  a  virtue  more  rare  than  fortitude  ; 
and  it  is  certain  that  great  prosperity  will  often  in- 
toxicate the  man  whom  adversity  could  not  depress. 
What  then  must  have  been  the  emotions  of  Wash- 
ington, when  at  length  he  turned  the  tide  of  war  and 
repelled  the  invader ;  and  from  the  midst  of  sur- 
rounding and  impending  dangers  led  us  safe  and  tri- 
umphant to  peace  and  independence  ?  He  retired 
from  the  coaamand  of  armies  to  the  cultivation  of  his 
farm,  followed  by  the  benedictions  of  grateful  mil- 
lions. The  literary  world  was  filled  with  his  praise. 
Kings  and  conquerors  hastened  to  present  tributes  of 
respect  to  the  farmer  of  Mount- Vernon.  Again  he 
was  called  from  retirement  by  the  acclamations  of 
a  nation,  to  direct  the  administration  of  the  govern- 
ment he  had  formed.  Placed  in  this  high  station  by 
the  unanimous  suffrage  of  his  own  country,  and  ad- 
mired by  the  most  distant  civilized  nations  ;  a  lot. 
more  flattering  to  human  pride  never  fell  to  r  um 
But  did  Washington  betray  a  weakness  ? — No  effu- 
sion of  vanity  or  joy  ?  neither  arrogance  nor  pride 


(    I  ') 


afrccted  the  steady  grandeur  of  his  mind.  Such  was 
his  self  command  that  he  bore  the  weight  of  success, 
of  universal  admiration  and  unrivalled  fame,  as  he 
bore  the  prospect  of  defeat  and  ruin.  From  his  own 
high  sphere  he  could  look  down  upon  adversity — 
and  upon  glory  also. 

To  such  qualities  w^re  joined  an  enlightened  un- 
derstanding, a  penetrating  and  profound  judgment, 
and  consummate  prudence.  He  distinguished  with 
peculiar  sagacity  the  true  from  the  false ;  the  spe- 
cious from  the  solid  ;  the  agreeable  from  the  useful"; 
the  illusions  of  theory,  from  the  demonstrations  of 
experience.  Having  no  vanity  to  gratify,  he  never 
staked  either  the  dignity  of  government,  or  the  pub- 
lic interest  upon  the  issue  of  new  projects.  His  ob- 
ject was  not  only  the  utmost  possible  good,  but  the 
greatest  certainty  of  obtaining  it.  The  success  of  his 
country,  and  her  unrivalled  prosperity,  till  his  prin- 
ciples were  abandoned,  form  a  magnificent  commen- 
tary upon  the  value  of  such  qualities,  in  a  General 
and  a  Statesman. 

Nor  were  any  of  the  great  endowments  of  his 
soul  more  conspicuous  than  his  justice  and  probity 
of  character.  In  the  ordinary  scenes  of  life,  this  is 
no  uncommon  virtue.  But  in  the  conduct  of  go- 
vernments, there  are  occasions  where  to  be  just,  im- 
plies that  magnanimity,  that  noble  and  elevated 


(    8  ) 


impartiality  which  gave  such  a  cast  of  grandeur 
to  the  character  of  Washington.  He  was  supe- 
rior to  resentment  and  revenge,  and  the  spirit  of 
persecution.  The  collisions  of  political  sects  could 
never  reach  him.  Still  less  could  he  be  made  the 
partizan  of  one  foreign  nation,  or  retain  personal 
hatred  to  another.  He  had  no  enemies  but  the  ene- 
mies of  the  republic ;  no  political  attachments  but 
.  to  his  country. 

Such  were  some  of  the  virtues  which  centered  in 
a  form  not  unworthy  of  them.  God  gave  to  this  fa- 
voured instrument  the  visible  ensigns  of  authority. 
He  had  a  dignity  of  person,  a  natural  majesty  of 
deportment  and  mien,  which,  while  they  inspired  con- 
fidence and  affection,  taught  mankind  that  he  was 
made  to  guide,  to  command,  and  to  save. 

A  man  who  possesses  any  distinguished  virtue  is 
an  ornament  to  the  world.  He  who  possesses  many 
such  virtues,  and  throughout  a  long  life  devotes  him- 
self to  the  practice  of  them,  is  among  the  rarest  gilts 
of  Heaven.  Yet  there  have  been  such  men,  who 
were  also  stained  by  signal  detects  or  vices.  What 
then  shall  be  said  of  one,  who,  uniting  in  himself 
this  assemblage  of  great  and  good  qualities,  passed  a 
life  in  scenes  of  unparalleled  trial  and  difficulty,  and 
fitoishfd  that  iile  scarcely  tarnished  by  a  foible? 


(  y  ) 


Had  he  been  only  a  brave  General,  our  cause 
would  have  been  jeopardized,  and,  perhaps,  lost  in 
unequal  battle  ;  and  yet,  without  his  qualities  as  a 
military  chief,  we  should  not  have  succeeded.  As  a 
mere  Statesman,  he  could  never  have  obtained 
the  ascendency  which  times  required.  Had  he 
wanted  fortitude,  or  prudence,  or  self-command,  or 
that  consummate  impartiality  and  integrity  of  cha- 
racter, which  inspired  universal  confidence,  we 
should  have  been  a  conquered  or  a  divided  people. 
Had  he  been  venal  or  ambitious,  where  had  been 
our  liberty?  It  was  only  that  wonderful  assem- 
blage of  qualities,  which  made  a  character  at  once 
great  and  faultless,  that  could  exclude  all  compe- 
tition, unite  all  hearts,  and  combine  all  efforts  in 
one  common  cause.  r 

Yet,  great  and  good  as  he  was,  his  qualities  were 
so  peculiar  as  to  be  almost  singly  adapted  to  the  cir- 
cumstances in  which  he  lived.  Without  America, 
he  might  not  have  appeared  great :  America  without 
him,  might  not  have  been  an  independent  nation. 

Too  elevated  for  courts;  too  honest  for  a  courtier  ; 
too  independent  to  be  the  instrument  of  power;  too 
humane  for  a  military  destroyer;  he  was  adapted  and 
?iven  to  the  wants  of  his  country,  at  the  precise 

n 


(   io  ) 


epoch,  when  all  his  useful  and  great  qualities  were 
necessary  tor  her  preservation. 

Let  those  who  believe  and  trust  in  providence ; 
those  who  doubt  not  but  the  events  of  time  are  ac- 
complished according  to  some  fixed  design,  and  tend 
to  certain  and  eventual  good;  let  such  remember  how 
Washington  was  formed  for  his  country's  salvation, 
and  then  cease  to  despair  of  her  future  happiness. 

Among  the  ancients,  no  honours  were  too  great 
for  the  man  who,  in  any  one  instance,  saved  the  state. 
The  names  of  a  few  who  more  than  once  preserved 
their  country,  have  beeu  transmitted  to  all  posterity 
with  increasing  honours.  But  history  furnishes  no 
other  example  of  a  man  like  Washington,  on  whose 
conduct  or  decision  the  fate  of  a  nation  was  so  often 
suspended.  Almost  every  period  of  the  war  was 
full  of  those  delicate  conjunctures,  in  which  it  was 
dangerous  not  to  act,  and  where  a  single  error  might 
have  ruined  the  country.  At  Trenton,  Princeton, 
Monmouth,  and  Yorktown,  his  consummate  milita- 
ry conduct  turned  and  decided  the  fortune  of  the  war. 

He  saved  his  country  by  his  aid,  in  forming  her 
constitution,  and  still  more  by  the  authority  of  his 
opinion  in  favour  of  that  form  of  government.  By 
his  civil  administration,  he  saved  the  constitution* 


C  11  ) 


and  witb  it  the  union.  In  a  most  illustrious  exam- 
ple of  wisdom  and  firmness  in  the  cabinet,  he  saved 
us  from  French  domination. 

France,  under  all  her  forms  of  despotism — royal, 
constitutional,  Jacobinic,  directorial,  consular,  impe- 
rial ; — France  still  nourished  her  destructive  am- 
bition. But  that  passion  became  peculiarly  dan- 
gerous to  the  liberties  of  mankind  in  the  progress  of 
her  revolution. 

Very  soon  after  our  government  was  organized, 
appeared  on  earth  the  revolutionary  demon  of 
France.  His  birth  shook  and  terrified  the  nations. 
His  young  efforts  covered  one  country  with  sorrow 
and  blood,  and  threatened  ruin  to  surrounding  states. 
Cities  are  sacked,  countries  laid  desolate;  the  youth 
of  Furope  are  driven,  bound,  to  the  field,  to  waste 
each  others  blood ;  nations  are  filled  with  the  cries  of 
aged  parents,  defenceless  women,  suffering  infants. 
At  the  distance  of  twenty  years  we  behold  him  grow- 
ing stronger  and  more  cruel :  dangerous  to  enemies, 
fatal  to  friends.  Still  unsatisfied  with  tears  and 
blood,  he  advances  over  prostrate  Europe.  He 
breaks  with  scorn,  barriers  hitherto  impregnable.  He 
tramples  with  iron  feet  upon  laws  and  liberty,  and 
social  institutions.  Force  and  fraud,  oaths  and  bribes, 
fraternity,  assassination  and  poison,  are  equally  his 
instruments. 


(    12  ) 


Such  and  so  terrible  was  the  power  which  begau 
its  career  by  a  professed  opposition  to  kingly  go- 
vernment. But  not  to  enumerate  hostile  monar- 
chies invaded,  nor  friendly  kingdoms  overthrown, 
where  are  the  republics  of  Europe?  Where  are 
Switzerland,  Genoa,  Venice,  and  Holland?  Where 
had  been  America,  but  for  Washington? 

An  embassy  came  from  France,  with  secret  in- 
structions to  involve  us  in  the  war  ;  with  public  pro- 
fessions that  she  did  not  wish  us  to  take  part  in  it. 
The  enthusiasm  in  favour  of  her  cause  was  univer- 
sal. Every  sentiment,  every  honest  sentiment  of  an 
American  heart,  favoured  a  people  who  appeared  to 
be  contending  for  their  liberties.  We  heard,  en- 
chanted, the  syren  song  of  equal  rights  ;  of  just  go- 
vernments, founded  on  the  public  will,  and  to  be 
administered  tor  the  general  good.  We  kindled  with 
indignation  when  told  of  armies  slaughtered,  and 
countries  laid  waste,  to  gratify  the  ambition  of  kings. 
We  glowed  with  enthusiasm,  when  we  learned  that 
a  great  nation  had  broken  the  yoke  of  despotic  au- 
thority, and  willed  to  be  free.  We  called  for  arms 
to  support  her  cause.  Blind  and  deluded,  we  were 
rushing  into  the  abyss  of  French  fraternity. 

Now,  for  the  first  time,  was  the  father  of  his  coun- 
try to  oppose  the  wishes  of  his  people.    The  inces- 


(    13  ) 

sant  cares  of  his  life  had  hitherto  been  soothed  by 
the  public  sympathy.  He  had  often  before  hazard- 
ed his  tame  upon  the  chance  of  events.  Now  he 
was  to  meet  the  attacks  of  malignant  calumny. 

But  what  could  the  wiles  of  foreign  intrigue: 
what  could  envy,  or  disappointed  ambition,  or  the 
low  calculations  of  venal  patriotism;  what  impres- 
sion could  these  make  upon  the  colossal  and  ada- 
mantine column  of  his  fame  ?  He  had  trLmphed 
over  calamity;  he  had  risen  superior  to  ambition; 
now  he  soared  above  detraction. 

lie  met  and  repelled  the  machinations  of  France. 
He  proclaimed  and  preserved  our  neutrality. — - 
Young  and  feeble  as  we  were,  encompassed  by  diffi- 
culties without,  and  distressed  by  internal  taction, 
still  Washington  was  at  our  head,  and  France  never 
dared  to  tell  him  "  that  she  would  have  no  neutrals." 
Under  another  sage  and  patriot  the  same  policy  go- 
verned our  councils  and  preserved  our  prosperity. 
In  the  venerable  repose  of  age,  Washington  again 
consented  to  assume  arms  for  our  protection  :  but  his 
name  alone  was  a  shield  to  the  country. 

To  those  who  but  imperfectly  remember  the  situa- 
tion of  our  country  twenty  years  ago,  it  \\  ill  be  im- 
possible to  describe  with  justice  the  benefits  of  the 


(    14  ) 


civil  administration  of  Washington.  My  audience 
will  not  easily  realize  the  contrast  between  the  years 
1788  and  1797;  nor  well  comprise  in  one  view  the 
mass  of  external  and  domestic  difficulties  which  were 
surmounted,  and  of  benefits  secured. 

Imagine,  however,  that  we  were  without  a  govern- 
ment: no  revenue  nor  force  :  neither  trade  nor  ma- 
nufactures. Private  distress  and  poverty  were  uni- 
versal :  taxes  heavy :  credit  and  confidence  gone  : 
civil  war  impending.  Indian  hostilities  distressed  the 
frontiers  :  our  citizens  enslaved  in  Algerine  captivity. 
England  first  menacing  our  frontiers,  next  attacking 
our  commerce  on  the  ocean  :  France  assailing  the 
independence  of  our  government,  and  alluring  our 
people  to  join  in  her  flagitious  conspiracy  against 
libertv,  laws,  and  society.  The  claims  of  Spain  up- 
on the  Missisippi  distracted  the  western  country, 
and  endangered  the  union.  At  home  and  abroad 
there  was  but  one  prospect  of  distress  and  ruin  at 
the  beginning,  and  afterwards  of  danger  and  embar- 
rassment in  the  public  affairs. 

The  rev  erse  of  this  picture  you  better  know.  Un- 
der the  auspices  of  Washington,  aided  by  Hamil- 
ton's reforming  genius,  and  by  that  of  other  distin- 
guished men  in  the  ,  cabinet,  an  abundant  revenue 
was  provided  ;  public  credit  was  established,  and 


(    15  ) 


private  confidence  followed.  Honest  industry  took 
courage,  for  hope  redoubled  its  efforts  and  an  ample 
reward  crowned  its  labours.  We  became  prosperous 
and  happy. 

When  England  assailed  our  commerce,  we  made 
an  actual,  not  a  pretended  preparation  for  defence  ; 
but  we  negociated  with  candour.  And  Jay,  a  states- 
man illustrious  for  talents,  integrity,  and  public  ser- 
vices, concluded  a  treaty,  not  more  remarkable  for  the 
malignity  with  which  it  was  assailed  by  faction,  than 
for  the  undivided  opinion  how  entertained  of  its  sig- 
nal benefits. 

Ample  reparation  w  as  obtained  from  Britain  :  the 
Missisippi  opened ;  the  union  strengthened ;  the 
Indians  subdued  :  our  brethren  returned  from  eas- 
tern captivity  to  their  native  soil  with  songs  of  joy  : 
we  reposed  in  peace  and  glory.  When  Washington 
left  the  earth,  he  left  America  with  a  name  then  un- 
polluted ;  a  name  beloved  and  revered  among  allied 
nations,  and  held  illustrious  throughout  the  world. 
When  he  had  accomplished  the  most  glorious  of  all 
destinies,  it  w  as  the  last  felicity  of  his  fortune,  that  he 
lived  not  to  see  his  works  tarnished  by  a  successor. 
Happy  fate  ! — Happy  country  !  if  she  would  follow- 
his  counsels,  or  know  the  worth  of  his  example. 


(    16  ) 


It  is  scarcely  possible  to  avoid  looking  into  futu- 
rity to  ask  what  is  to  be  the  issue  of  an  example  so 
perfect,  exhibited  on  so  great  a  theatre  of  action. 
The  country  for  which  Washington  fought  and  toiled, 
is  our  country ;  here  we  shall  leave  our  children  to 
do  and  suffer  whatever  may  be  the  will  of  Heaven. 
Is  an  empire  commenced  under  such  auspices  to  ex- 
hibit the  same  scenes  of  treachery  and  taction,  vi- 
olence and  blood,  which  others  have  done?  Or  shall 
the  bright  example,  and  the  precepts  of  our  chief, 
introduce  anew  aera  in  the  affairs  of  men  and  lead  to 
happier  times  ?  We  must  conless  that  political  history 
exhibits  for  the  most  part,  but  a  melancholy  spectacle. 
Faction  will  sometimes  reign  with  intemperate  sway. 
Political  persecution  may  be  reduced  to  system. 
The  government  itself  may  become  the  degraded  in- 
strument of  a  party,  or  be  unhinged  by  the  experi- 
ments of  moon-struck  statesmen.  At  some  dis- 
graceful moment  it  may  be  at  once  the  subservient 
agent  of  a  foreign  despot,  and  the  ignoble  object  of 
his  insult  and  contumely. 

If  then  it  is  decreed  that  this  union  shall  be  dis- 
solved ;  our  strength  annihilated ;  our  independence, 
and  with  it  our  liberty,  lost;  that  this  great  edifice  of 
free  government  shall  crumble  and  fall,  when  no  long- 
er supported  by  the  hand  of  Washington  ;  how  mag- 
nificently great,  how  awful  hereafter,  will  appear  the 


(    17  ) 


rains  of  such  an  empire  and  of  its  liberty — the  ruin* 
ol  *  1  empire  which  he  reared;  the  ruins  of  liberty 
which  could  not  survive  him. 

But  no  !  for  in  all  former  times,  and  in  circumstan- 
ces of  much  greater  danger,  has  a  protecting  and  sa- 
ving spirit  interfered  for  the  preservation  of  our 
country.  It  has  been  our  peculiar  character  to  ga- 
ther strength  from  adversity,  and  after  every  fall  to 
rise  with  renewed  and  augmented  vigour. 

"  Fond  impious  Man  !  think'st  thou  yon  sanguine  cloud, 
a  Rais'd  by  thy  breath,  has  quench'd  the  orb  of  day  ? 

"  To  mo;  row  he  repairs  the  golden  flood, 

"  And  warms  the  nadons  with  redoubled  ray." 

We  who  are  here,  occupy  that  middle  space  in 
rime  which  connects  the  cotemporaries  of  Washing- 
ton with  tiicir  successors.  We  begin,  as  to  him,  the 
age  of  history.  Hence,  my  brethren  of  the  Wash- 
ington Benevolent  Society,  we  have  sought  to  esta- 
blish an  institution,  in  which  a  perpetual  succession 
of  men  should  preserve  the  memory  of  our  hero,  and 
hold  up  his  example  for  imitation  and  instruction  to 
each  passing  age.  Be  it  ours  to  give  an  admiring 
posterity  a  just  conception  of  what  he  was  ;  to  show 
them  we  are  not  wholly  ungrateful,  and  to  consecrate 
to  fame  and  to  glory  a  day  which  hereafter  will  be 
distinguished  in  the  annals  of  the  benefactors  of 
mankind. 


c 


(    18  ) 


Another  duty  also  claims  our  attention.  We  have 
seen  that  some  who  passed  their  youth  in  the  field 
with  Washington,  pass  their  age  in  misery.  Some- 
times we  see  the  w  reck  of  an  American  soldier  ;  he 
whose  heart  once  beat  hi«;h  with  the  love  of  li: 
berty  and  the  hope  of  fame ;  he  who,  proud  of  the 
array  of  splendid  war,  marched  in  the  front  and 
panted  for  the  conflict ;  he  who  braved  the  battle 
and  the  storm,  the  summer s  heat  and  the  winters 
frost;  all  ardour  and  emulation  in. the  public  cause  : 
see  him  now  broken  with  misfortune,  bowed  down 
with  grief,  despoiled  of  the  sword  and  the  plume  of 
war,  and  forgetful  of  the  pride  of  victory  :  see  him 
feeble  and  desponding,  perhaps  asking  a  pittance 
from  a  country  which  he  so  honourably  defended  ; 
and  like  Washington,  ready  to  breathe  his  last  sighs 
in  prayers  for  her  safety.  Can  we,  who  enjoy  the 
fruit  of  his  toils,  be  indifferent  to  his  sufferings  ?  To 
you,  my  brethren  of  the  Washington  Benevolent  So- 
ciety, the  appeal  was  not  made  in  vain  ;  you  provid- 
ed relief  for  the  war-worn  veteran ;  you  lighted  up 
a  smile  on  the  brow  of  despondency ;  you  have  bes- 
towed a  blessing  upon  the  last  hours  of  him,  whose 
youth  was  spent  in  procuring  blessings  for  you. 

The  age  of  the  cotemporaries  of  our  hero  is  rapidly 
passing  away.  The  next  generation  will  search  with 
wonder  and  delight  into  history,  for  scenes  which 
many  of  us  have  personally  witnessed.  Succeeding 


(    19  ) 


ages,  as  they  roll  on,  will  more  and  more  develope 
the  importance  or  the  present  This  broad  conti- 
nent will  one  day  be  covered  with  populous  cities 
and  civilized  inhabitants  ;  navies  will  tloat  upon  the 
Missisippi  and  the  lakes ;  neighbouring  empires 
will  speak  the  same  language,  and  recognize  a  com- 
mon origin  and  kindred  institutions.  These  they 
will  trace  back  to  our  age,  and  to  Washington,  the 
founder  of  our  policy.  The  character  of  nations 
has  at  all  times  been  influenced  by  that  of  their  foun- 
ders. See  Rome,  fired  by  a  public  ambition  to  sub- 
due and  sway  the  world,  a  passion  derived  from  the 
personal  character  of  a  few  men  ;  for  ages  together 
see  her  exalting  her  early  heroes  inhistory  and  song; 
and,  citing  the  examples  of  her  fathers,  see  her  as- 
sume the  high  prerogative  to  humble  the  pride  of 
every  other  power,  and  give  laws  to  kings  and  de- 
pendant nations. 

Yours,  Americans,  be  a  different  character  :  here, 
let  justice  and  temperate  liberty  reign,  and  the  proud 
unconquerable  spirit  of  independence,  alike  unwill- 
ing to  invade  the  rights  of  others,  incapable  of  yield- 
ing your  own  ;  reluctant  to  assume  arms  ;  resolved 
never  to  lay  them  down  till  your  rights  are  vindicat- 
ed :  prefering  justice  to  violence — liberty  to  peace 
— death  and  ruin  to  slavery,  or  the  loss  of  honour. 
Such  was  the  mind  of  Washington  ;  such,  Americans, 
be  the  maxims  of  your  republic. 

How  vast  is  the  space  which  the  character  of  tliis 


(  ao  ) 


man  is  destined  to  fill.  Rising  up  in  a  polished  age, 
and  under  the  light  of  science  and  religion,  his  ex- 
ample will  be  imitated  on  a  much  broader  field  than 
that  of  the  Grecian  legislators  or  Roman  fathers. 
Nations  yet  unborn,  senates  in  future  ages,  when 
they  ponder  the  fate  of  those  nations,  and  seek  in 
antiquity  tor  examples  of  illustrious  deeds  in  the 
field  or  cabinet,  will  point  almost  with  adoration  to 
the  revered  precedents  of  his  actions,  and  exclaim, 
"  thus  did  Washington  /" 

Yes!  our  empire  and  our  freedom  shall  survive. 
Guided,  great  Washington,  by  thy  example,  and 
warned  by  thy  precepts,  we  shall  learn  to  extend  the 
reign  of  peace  and  liberty  ;  to  consolidate  the  union; 
to  repel  with  scorn  the  attacks  of  foreign  and  domes- 
tic i action,  and  in  the  prosperity  and  glory  of  our 
country,  to  raise  a  firm  and  everlasting  monument 
to  thy  fame. 

When  the  traveller  therefore  in  ages  to  come, 
Shall  inquire  for  the  monument  of  Washington,  the 
answer  will  be,  "  behold  the  empire  which  he  found- 
ed." What  other  can  we  raise?  Shall  perishable 
marble  ;  shall  columns  of  brass  ;  shall  Pantheons,  or 
triumphal  arches,  affect  to  add  to  the  durability  of 
his  fame  ?  Presumptuous  piles  of  dust !  His  example 
shall  stand  a  light  and  a  consolation  to  man,  when 
statues,  and  monuments,  and  arches,  and  temples, 
shall  have  crumbled  into  ruins. 

finis.  ' 


